Page 34 of Don't Leave Me

“Yeah, I'm just worried about Leslie. I’m a little worried about myself too,” she confesses softly.

“That’s understandable. I'm worried about you too. But you know, I'm not going to let anything happen to you if I can stop it, right?”

“I know, but you aren’t always around. When I'm sleeping, I'm all alone.”

“Are you saying you want to sleep here?” A grin tugs on the corner of my lips.

“I can only imagine how much drama that could start.” She rolls her eyes. “Colt will disapprove and he’ll think I don’t trust him to keep me safe. Leslie will be upset and think I don’t want to risk being close to her. And let’s not even get started on how Wes Robinson would respond if he found out his little girl was sleeping in the cute deputy’s bed.”

“Baby,” I whisper, taking her face in my hands. “If you’re more comfortable staying here, I’ll take all of those people on. I’llhandle everything that gets thrown our way and more. I want to make sure you’re where you want to be, that’s all I care about.”

“I want to stay here, Peck. I know you’ll protect me.”

I tug her onto my lap and hold her against me. I want to kiss her, but this isn't about being romantic right now, it’s about making her feel safe. I bury my face in the crook of her neck and hug her tightly. We can stay like this all night and I wouldn’t be mad.

My phone pings and lights up the low-lit room. I grab it off the small table at the side of the couch and smile when I read the text.

Colt: Can you keep Sophia at your house tonight? I’d rather only have one person to worry about in case he shows up.

While I'm not happy he’s this worried, I know I won't need to battle anyone tonight to keep my girl in my arms.

“Sweetheart, you’re sleeping here. Colt just asked me to keep you with me tonight.”

“Why?” She pulls back and meets my gaze. There’s so much fear and concern swimming in those blue eyes.

“He thinks it’s better if we each have one person to worry about. He cares about you, he’s just more focused on her. Just like I care about Leslie, but my focus will always be on you first.”

She closes the distance between us and presses her lips against mine. She conveys all of the emotions she doesn’t want to voice and then some.

Sophia’s my tough girlfriend, but I can tell right now she wants someone else to be tough for her. I'm more than happy to fill that role. More than happy to let her rest while I keep watch for the both of us.

“Let’s get some sleep. I think everyone is tired.”

“Can we watch a movie while we lay in bed?”

“Anything for you.”

I lift her into my arms and carry her over to the bed. Placing her in the center, I reach behind my neck and drag my shirt over my head.

“Holy crap, that was hot,” she whispers, staring at my bare chest.

“Do you want something else to sleep in?” I smirk.

“Gimme your shirt.” She holds out her hand and waits for me to place the fabric in her fingers.

“I’ve been wearing that all night. Don’t you want something clean?”

“No. I want that one.”

“Let’s hope it doesn’t smell bad.” I roll my eyes and drop the shirt into her hands.

I watch with amusement as she slips the shirt over her head without taking off anything. She moves her arms around and tugs her sweater out from under the hem, it lands somewhere on the floor. My brows draw together as I try to figure out how she did that.

I'm about to open my mouth and ask when her bra gets flung across the room. My brows raise as I stare at her. I wasn’t expecting that. I know she let me massage her last night, but I didn’t think she’d be comfortable sleeping like this.

She stands up on the bed and unbuttons her jeans. She shimmies them down her legs and they meet the floor like the rest of her clothes. I nearly choke on my own spit when she slips under the covers and tosses a thong on the floor.

“Holy shit. Are you taking off anything else?”

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